Recommendable Goat Fencing Options

Before settling on a particular fencing option for your goats, it is important to keep their behavior in mind. Goats are known to be difficult when it comes to keeping them inside a fence. This is because they love to test fences and look for ways to break out. So if there is a way out of the fenced area, they will definitely find it. The main reason why you need a reliable goat fencing option is to ensure that you keep your goats in and protect them from predators. Once you have realized this, here are some guidelines on the qualities of a recommendable goat fence.

Your fence has to be strong since goats like to lean against fences and break them. A tall fence is best for goats as some goats like to jump over fences and they can jump as high as 4 feet. So a 4-foot fence should reach the minimum height of a goat fence.

A goat fence should not be able to trap a goat’s head or horns. Goats like to put their heads through the spaces in fences. Thus, ensure that your goat’s head won’t get stuck in the fence. Here are some goat fencing options that you can consider.

The 4 or 5 Strand Electric Goat Fencing

If you have a large pasture land, this is a perfect goat fencing option that could work for you. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are some goats that might jump through this fence. For example, Billy goats are notorious especially during the mating season.

This fence is quite easy and inexpensive to construct as opposed to trying to put up a wire fence in a pasture that has lots of trees and hilly terrain. The goats will test the fence, and the electricity will keep them in, the minute the electricity is off they will definitely get out.

With this fence, you need to keep checking on it to see that it is all working right and you will also have to weed around it to keep the weeds around the electric wires short so that the fence does not ground out.

A Goat Fencing Wire with 4-Inch Squares

You will find that a woven wire fence with 4-inch squares will work well for goats as long as it’s taller than 4 feet and is pulled tightly between the posts during construction.

This fence can be used for both large and small pastures. If it is tight, the goat can lean on it without pushing it down. If it’s high enough, the goats won’t be able to jump over.

The 4 inch squares are great since the adult goats can’t get their heads stuck in the fence.

The younger goats can get their heads stuck though, but it is easy to free them. Larger goat breeds may still be able to jump over this fence though: So, you can consider adding a strand of electric wire above the wire fence.

A Goat Fence Made of Cattle Panels

Cattle panels are a good option for you if you want to fence a small pasture for your goats. These panels are quite strong and will, therefore, be durable and serve you for a long time.

Cattle panels come in sections that are 16 feet tall and are therefore great for keeping in your goats as they cannot jump that high. The reason why these panels would not work for a large pasture is because it would be quite costly.

Cattle panels have openings that are big, and your goats would have their heads getting stuck very often. The openings are big enough for small kids to escape through. To avoid this, you can look for goat panels. Goat panels are basically the same as cattle panels only with smaller openings.

Wire and Electric Combination Goat Fence

This is another recommendable goat fencing option. However, it is a bit expensive to put up as it is a combination of wire fencing and electric fencing.

The wire you use should have small openings and be quite strong to withstand goats leaning on it. It, therefore, should be tightly fixed between the posts. The wire can be 4 feet, and then you can fix two strands of electric fencing on top of it to discourage jumpers.

This fencing will be a great option for bigger goat breeds. Since it will be strong enough to withstand their testing and they won’t be able to jump over it. It is important that you keep the electricity on as they will definitely try to jump and if it is off when they do, they will escape.

You can also add another electric wire at the bottom of your fence. Ensure that it is not too close to the ground. This wire will ensure that your goats learn to keep inside the fence and avoid it.

It will also protect your goats from any predators trying to get inside the enclosure.

Final Verdict

If you have a larger pasture where you can tire you goats, then you can also use pallet fences which are less expensive than wire and electric fences. More so, in the case where you already have a good fence in place, but you have a goat who always figures out a way to escape, or jump over the fence, it would be better getting rid of him. You will have an easier time managing your goats once that trouble making goat is removed from the bunch.

Once you have a fence in place, respect it. Try not to step over the fence. If you do, you are encouraging the goats to try to go over the fence as well. They will start trying to jump over the fence if they don’t already do it. Always use the gate and encourage your children to do the same.

In choosing your goat fence, you need to keep the breed of your goats in mind. How does that breed behave, do they jump or not. The size of the breed should be considered as well since the bigger, heavier breeds can escape from a weak fence too easily.

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